"What it does is takes a bunch of New Yorkers—most of the people on Jersey Shore are New Yorkers... drops them at the Jersey Shore, and tries to make Americans feel like this is New Jersey," said Christie. "I can tell people, they want to know what New Jersey really is? I welcome them to come to New Jersey anytime." (Note that he probably didn't mean to make that last bit sound like a threat; that's just how people talk in New Jersey.)

And he's kind of right! Most of the cast members on the show are from Staten Island... just like most of the people who throng Seaside Heights every year.